opportunism
opportunism Lexical Profile
opportunism Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The practice of taking advantage of immediate circumstances or opportunities for personal or political gain, with little regard for ethical principles or long-term consequences.
"Critics accused the candidate of blatant opportunism after he reversed his stance on the tax bill just days before the election."
In ecology and medicine, the ability of an organism or pathogen to adapt flexibly to changing environmental conditions or to exploit a weakened host.
"Dietary opportunism allows coyotes to thrive in both rural wilderness and dense urban neighborhoods."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 19th century from French 'opportunisme' (and Italian 'opportunismo'), originally coined to describe pragmatic political flexibility. It ultimately derives from the Latin 'opportunus', meaning 'favorable' or 'driving toward the port' (from 'ob-' meaning 'toward' and 'portus' meaning 'harbor').